Combined window unit and blind construction



. 6, 1949 E. G. FISHER COMBINED WINDOW UNIT AND BLIND CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 26, 1946 i liliii. 4 M xawsr Sxxxeosn M MWWMV my/, nn/uwmvr Z 2 M m 4 l WFVF l| .Il v VLrI mi .|I||||||H.H HIH|IV||||||||HH| MNHIHIHIMUI" ||||||l||| .l xll|| I I mf, ...ww 4 7. l .m w L a Patented Dec. 6, l1949 wrNnow purr cous'rauc'non ANDBLIND Edward G. Fisher, mi, Fla.

Application November 26, il, Serial No. '112,350

schim. (ci. zc-sasi The present invention relates generally to assembled window units and more particul ly to a window unit comprising spaced, seal and partially evacuated glass panes including a Venetiantype blind therebetween and with a blind operator projecting therefrom.

Although windows of the multi-glazed, blindenclosing type are known in the prior art. none of these has completely or satisfactorily solved the problem of providing such a construction wherein the interior sides of the panes -will not cloud due to condensation, and wherein the interior of the unit as a whole. and particularly the blind slats, is maintained freefrom dust and dirt particles so as to eliminate cleaning thereof.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view thereof to an enlarged scale taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view to a further enlarged scale of the combined blind operator and evacuating valve and the seal therefor, taken on Itheline l-I of Fig. 3;'

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view to an enlarged scale o frackand pinion operating means, taken on the line l-'l of Fig. 4; n

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation of a blind slat and its connection to the vertical operating bar; and

Fig. 7 ls a vertical sectional view thereof taken I on the line l--l of Fig. 6.

Accordingly, the chief object ofthe present invention is to provide a sealed and evacuated multi-glazed, blind-enclosing window unit, Athe interior of which will be entirely free from dust. dirt particles or moisture so that once incorporated in a building structure, it -will function to exclude heat and light in accordance with the manual adjustment of the blind slats and without requiring disassembly for cleaning or other maintenance purposes. l

An important object of the present invention is to provide a method of assembling a multiglazed.' adjustable, blind-enclosing window which may then be delivered as a completed integral unit ready for installation in a wall opening or the like.

Anotherimportant object of the present invention is .to provide a novel seal for a rotatable shaft controlling the slat adjustment of an evacuated multi-glazed, blind-enclosing. window unit, so as to prevent-the entrance of air, moisture or dirt between the panes.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide novel means for evacuating the area within a sealed, multi-glazed blindenclosing window unit.

A still further important object of the present invention is to provide a sealed, multi-glazed. blind-enclosingr window unit having a combined blind operator and evacuator valve projecting therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a seal for the rotatable cont-rol shaft of a blindcontaining window unit of the type described wherein part of the seal forms the bearing for the shaft.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the window unit comprising my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Referring now to the drawings, numeral I0 designates the glass window unit as a whole, which comprises identical channel-shaped top and bottom closure members i2 and i4, identical side supporting members It and i 8, and a pair of face plates 20 and 22 of plate glass or a similar material having transparent, distortion-free characteristics so as to provide unimpaired visibility.

The face plates 2l and 22 are fused in a conventional manner to the glass closure members I2 and i4, as well as to the glass supporting sides It and il, so that the assembled unit will retain a partial vacuum. It will be noted that the,y sides include small outwardly projecting flanges" 24 and large inwardly projecting anges 26 in' spaced parallel relation. The faces 20 and 22 are fused to the flanges 24 and to the flanges of the closures i2 and il to provide a pair of spaced continuous flanges at the edges of the faces. A recess is thus provided in the sides, top and bottom of the unit and affords 'a means for securing it within a wall opening by cement or mortar.

The blind assembly is supported on the bottom closure member I4 and comprise a plurality of -parallel horizontally disposed slats 28 pivotally mounted in a pair of side members 3|) and 32 by means of bearing members 34 and 36. A crank arm 3l is fixed to each bearing It and extends toward the front of the edge of the slat where it is connected to a bar". 'Ihus vertical movement of the bar will effect a simultaneous rotary adjustment ofv` each slat through an arc of aim'ost degrees in either direction.

'I'he side l2 of the blind assembly is provided with a vertical slot l2 for the reception of a rectangular bearing il which is fixed to or integral with a rack It. The bearing is retained in the slot by the rear face of the rack and by washers 4l of greater diameter than the width of the slot. A link Il is pivotally connected at its upper end to a lug I2 on the bar 4l and at its lower end to a stud I4 on the rack bearing Il by means of a amm . v 3 Thebllndassemblydescribedisndlntdtobo slidably inserted within the window unit il. The large flanges 2i are each provided with opposed vertically extending slots 5l for thereception of the lateral edges of the sides 30 and l2 (Fig. 3). The blind assembly may be inserted from either the top or bottom end of the window unit, veither of which is subsequently fused to the other of the unit as described.

The rack 4t is operated by a pinion Il (Pigs. 3, 4 and 5) cut on the inner end of a hollow shaft t which projects through an aperture i! in the face 20 of the window unit. The shaft l0 is rotated by means of a control knob M having a squared recess t5 which receives the lsquared outer end 66 ofthe shaft. A anged glass collar B8 is sealed in the aperture n as by fusing.. In order to prevent the transmittal of other than turning stress to the shaft il, the knob Il is given a bearing on the collar 6I through a split ring l and retained in position by set-screws l0.

An elongated annular sealing ring 12, which is tapered at its rear end as at 1I is s weated to the hollow shaft 60 while a mating, coextensive annular sealing ring is sweated within and to the glass collar 68 and includes a horizontal portion 14 and a tapered portion 15. The mating horizontal portions 'l2 and 14 constitute a bearing which prevents non-torsional stress from turning y the shaft 60 or decreasing the eectiveness of the tapered portions 'I3 and 1i forming the seal. The portions 13 and 'l5 are strongly urged together by a resilient spider washer 1I acting against the rear end of the collated sleeve Il and a cotter key 18 extending through the shaft.

Preferably, the sealing members 'l2-15, which cooperate to effectively seal thecontrol shaft aperture 62 so as to maintain a partial vacuum within the window unit, are formed of a lubricant-bearing metal.

The bore or conduit formation of the hollow shaft 60, through which the unit is evacuated, is closed from outside byva needle valve 'Il after evacuation through a lateral port closed by the screw plug 82. l Y

During adjustment of the slats, the pinion 58 is prevented fromoVerrunning the rack by means of an enclosing guard 84 fixed to the rack. This guard also supports and maintains the pinion 58 in mesh with the rack and prevents strain on the seal. p

The multi-glazed, blind-enclosing window unit I0 described is well adapted for assembly line methods of mass production as will be apparent from the following. The -top i2, the sides Ii-and I8, the rear face 22 and the front face 20 are all' placed in properly abutting position and fused together. A blind unit is assembled and the edges of `sides and 32 slidably inserted upwardly in the 'opposing pairs of slots 56. Next, an assembledcontrolshaft and seal unit is carefully placed inthe face 20 in the aperture 62 and the pinion 58 meshed with the rack 46. After this is done. the bottom 4I4 is fused in its proper place.

The unit is preferably partially evacuated to the predetermined strength of the glass after installation in order to relieve all pressure strain on the glass during the handling and installation process. The evacuating is readily accomplished by detaching the blind control knob M, removing the valve port plug l2 and evacuating through the port when the needle valve Il is backed oi! (to the right in Fig. 4). These parts are returnedv to the position shown when the partial evacuaf Y tion is completed.

Itwillnowbereadilyapparentthatthebiind is completely enclosed and sealed within the winduw unit and thus permanently free of dirt or grime as is also the blind control mechanism. Accordingly. these parts need not be of heavy or cumbersome construction. The blindslats may be constructed of any suitable material resistant to sunlight.

The partial evacuation ofthe window unit further eliminates the formation of moisture on the inaccessible interior surfaces and substantially lowers the rate of heat transmission through the unit. The sealing of the blind assembly within the unit also eliminates the need of unsightly lubricants inthe bearing surfaces and greatly retards their tendency to corrode, due to the elimination of moisture and air.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention which has been shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example oi' the same and that various changes in the shape, size. and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim: y

1. A multi-glazed window unit comprising top, bottom, side, and yface members forming an enclosure, said side members including 4slotted inwardly projecting flanges; 'a blind assembly including supporting end members mounted in said slots within said enclosure, a bar connecting the slats of said blind for simultaneous adjustment, a rack slidably mounted on one of said end members. a link connecting said bar and said rack. and operating means projecting within said enclosure and engaging said rack for adjustment of said blind.

2. A multi-glazed window unit comprising top,

closure, said side members including slotted inwardly projecting flanges, a blind assembly including supporting end members mounted in said slots within said enclosure, a bar connecting the slats of said, blind for simultaneous adjustment. a rack slidably mounted on onel of said end members, a link connecting `said bar and said rack, operating means projecting within said enclosure and engaging said rack for adjustment of 'said' blind, and rotary sealing means fixed to sailfopcrating meansv and said unit for preventing the entrance of air and moisture into'said enclosure.

3.` In a multi-glazed window unit including a slatted blind therein and having a rack for adjustment of the blind slats, said window unit being provided with an aperture therein, a bearing mounted in said aperture, a hollow control shaft fixed in said bearing and having a squared outer end and a gear-shaped inner end for operative engagement with said rack, a valve closing the outer end of said shaft, and an operating knob fixed to said squared end and rotatable to effect an ad justment of said blind slats.

4. In a multi-glazed window unit including a slatted blind therein vand having a rack for adjustment of the blind slats, said window unit being provided with an apertu'rejtherein, a bearing mounted in said aperture. a hollow control shaft fixed in said bearing andhaving a squared outer end of said shaft, an operating knob fixed to said squared end and rotatable to effect an adjustment of said blind slats. and a guard fixedto said rack to prevent disengagement of the gear-shaped shai'tendtherefrom.

5. In a multi-glazed window imit ineludinl a slotted blind therein and having a rack for adjustment oi the blind slats, said window unit boing provided with an aperture therein. a bearing collar mounted in the aperture. a control shaft 5 mounted in said collar and having a squared outer end and a gear-shaped inner end for operative engagement with said rack, and an operating knob cooperating with said squared end and rotatably bearing on said collar for eilecting an adl0 justment of said blind slats.

@WARD G. FISHER.

REFERENCES CITED The Iollowingreferencea are of record in the le of this patent: e 

